The monster's loose.

[iceandivory]

Characters: Hitsugaya Toushirou (iceandivory), Urahara Kisuke (mere_shopkeeper), Unohana Retsu (bunny_flower), Ukitake Jyuushirou (taichou_tb), Raven (feel_nevermore), Hino Rei (marsfireignite), Saotome Ranma (reckless_equine), PM (promotedmsnger), and others to be added once they reply
When: Tuesday, April 19
Where: Ukitake's event hide-out
Rating: PG-13, probably
Summary: Hitsugaya said Ukitake would die next. Knock, knock. "Candy gram."

Comments

Order = Urahara, Ukitake, Unohana, Hitsu?

[mere_shopkeeper]

He remembered arriving at the abandoned building, remembered feeling Ukitake's reiatsu spike and then drop as he told Unohana to go in first while he used those first few seconds outside to put up the barriers that would keep Hitsugaya in and others out. It wasn't because he didn't care, but rather because he knew that if they were too late and he rushed in without securing the building first, it could mean yet another victim. And if by chance they weren't too late, Unohana could do much more than he could to help the dying man.

It wasn't because he didn't care, but rather because he cared too much. And he knew he needed to do what he could for the future while logic could still govern emotion.

Yet somehow, between the then and the now (when had he entered the building?), those memories seemed to have faded into the barely remembered. He felt his feet move (a flash-step, perhaps?) drawing him level with the icy, blood-stained figure standing in the middle of the room in the blink of an eye. But his own eyes were fixed on the bloodied heap crumpled up against the wall, and so a second blink brought him do its side, his black haori fluttering down around him as he scooped the white-haired man into his arms. Dimly, he registered a pained, almost whimper-like, sound from nearby (was that him?), but what did it matter?

"Jyuushirou..."

And Cloud when Jessica wakes up XD

[taichou_tb]

He was dying.

It hurt, everything hurt, and yet it didn't at the same time. His blood leaked out of open wounds, carrying with the flow his own life, so much that only started to feel numb. Even the Hollow inside seemed to slowly fade away. His arm, just moments ago having transformed into Metastacia's tentacle, became his own again.

His sight was blurred and his hearing was dulled. His sense of smell was gone, but he tasted blood, so much blood. His mouth was warm; was some blood dripping past his lips? He couldn't tell. All Ukitake knew was that these were his last, painful breaths.

As soon as that thought blew through his mind, he gasped for air that wouldn't come properly, coughing up more blood. So much blood. It was all he could taste. The warm metallic life abandoning him.

He was dying.

Suddenly, he felt something move him, or he thought he was moving. It was hard to tell when the world around him was slowly disappearing. But something broke through the haze, something...familiar.

That voice...

It almost calmed him, except for the fact that he couldn't breathe. Still, gathering up some stores of strength, he lifted a hand toward the voice's face, or so he hoped it would get there; it was very hard to see through the fog. Once his fingertips met something solid, he tried to speak.

Sorry guys, I was sick yesterday.

[bunny_flower]

Unohana had rushed to his side as well, but her hands did not start to emit that glowing radiance that they did when healing. It was too late, and she knew it.

She searched for his hand, holding it in hers. The tears were near, but they would not fall not now. Not yet. Not here.

"Juushirou-san ..."

She closed her eyes, swallowed, turned to the smaller figure in the middle of the room. She was angry, but her eyes were mostly full of pain and pity for all involved here.

"It ends, here and now, Hitsugaya Toushirou."

No problem.

[whitelikedeath]

Hitsugaya watched it all with a detached boredom, as if he understood why they would be upset and yet didn't acknowledge the concept enough to know how it felt or even remotely sympathize with it. He waited though. He waited until Unohana addressed him herself to raise his blade once more, the familiar frigid, blue energy swirling around him in aggravated spikes while he remained calm and in place.

Hope you're feeling better!

[mere_shopkeeper]

Urahara vaguely noticed Unohana by his side, but most of his focus was on Ukitake, one hand rising up to hold the one resting against his face, his head turning to press his lips against those cold fingers as he leaned down to better hear whatever Ukitake had to say.

Hitsugaya went ignored for the most part, though Urahara did briefly rest a hand on Unohana's arm. There was no need to rush, the barriers were up and reinforcements were outside... And they should say goodbye while they still had time.

<333

[taichou_tb]

Vaguely he registered someone else by his side, and if he had more strength he would have squeezed the hand holding his. That new voice, however, was also familiar and Ukitake calmed down a little more, though his breathing was even more labored. He wasn't alone, at least, and he was thankful for that.

But...he was going to say something, right? He had to. The person under his fingertips deserved it. Swallowing thickly, Ukitake forced out his words in a pained whisper. "I...didn't make it."

Even that small effort seemed to be too much for his abused body. He coughed again, more sticky blood filling his mouth. But he wasn't done talking! He couldn't just leave it at that. "...Sorry."

His hand fell away from the person's face, losing his remaining strength quickly now. There was still so much he wanted to say. Don't hurt Hitsugaya. Don't blame yourselves. Try not to be too sad. I'll come back soon. But while his soul was strong, Ukitake's body was failing. And slowly, slowly, his breathing shallowed out and stilled.

A bit, thanks !

[bunny_flower]

She could feel the pulse of his reiatsu rapidly waning, the heart beating erratically, all of the physical symptoms. She was not close enough to catch his words, but she held onto his hand nonetheless, until it stopped moving.

"Juushirou-san ... You used to say that people fight for their life, or for their pride. You did not lose this fight. We did."

She looked at Urahara and put a hand on his shoulder.

"Kisuke-san ... let us finish this, and bring Juushirou-san back to the Clinic so that he can be with us when he comes back."

Good!

[whitelikedeath]

He could feel that Ukitake was down, knew that he wouldn't be able to escape even if they hadn't put up barriers. He intended to kill them all. They'd said their goodbyes to Ukitake, even though he'd likely return soon. Standing around and waiting for them to act now was stupid.

Without a second thought, he charged toward Unohana, spiritual pressure bursting as he aimed for another straight-forward stab to the chest.

If I may jump turns on this one ...

[bunny_flower]

Unohana knew better than anyone that pulling punches would get them nowhere. She did not let go of Ukitake's hnd as she turned to face Hitsugaya.

"Danku."

The wall of kidou appeared in front of them, shielding them from the direct attack.

You may~! New order = Hitsu, Uno, Ura?

[mere_shopkeeper]

Urahara seemed to be unaware of the fight beginning, or at least he didn't seem to be paying much attention it as his eyes clenched shut at Ukitake's last words. An apology... It should be him saying sorry, him apologizing for not arriving in time, for not staying with Ukitake when he knew that Hitsugaya was targeting him, when he knew that Ukitake didn't have his zanpakutou anymore. He was the one who had left the older captain defenseless, and so he was responsible for his death, just like he had been responsible for the deaths of so many others.

The guilt was overwhelming, rising up within him in waves that crashed down on one another, building up into rolling, seething anger and self-hatred until it burst free and sought out an external release, finding one in the form of Hitsugaya Toshirou.

And it was as if something snapped inside him with an unheard roar, his mind blank with rage as he carefully laid Ukitake down on the ground, folding his arms over his stomach and brushing his hair back with a lingering touch, his actions seemingly calm and controlled... Until he suddenly burst into action. Before anyone could blink, he was on his feet, turning in a whirl of green and black and deadly eyes. Silver, then red, gleamed out from the blur as he drew and released Benihime while rushing towards the cracking wall of kidou, his reiatsu flaring around him dangerously before he crashed through it, his sword clashing against Hitsugaya's in a shower of sparks, pushing him back and away from Unohana.

He had already lost one... He refused to lose another. Especially not to this murderer.

Works for me. If I can manage to get my brain working again.

[whitelikedeath]

Eyes wide in shock at Urahara's speed, Hitsugaya hastily called forth more of Hyourinmaru's power, having already released shikai to finish Ukitake. Ice cracked into existence as the blades made contact, and Hitsugaya was pushed back, landing on his feet before hitting the next wall due to the counter force he'd exerted.

With a frustrated click of his tongue, he pushed off again, letting the ice he controlled shoot up from the ground around him in sharp, angry clusters - all jagged edges and crystal mountain peaks - as he charged Unohana a second time, aiming for the same exact spot. The difference being that his other hand was clasping Hyourinaru's chain tightly, the initial charge being only a way to get in close, so that the crescent blade behind him could loop around below and clasp the healer's ankle.

[bunny_flower]

"Hadou no nanajuusan. Touzanshou."

The pyramid of energy envelopped Unohana completely, the point just below her feet. That would hold on long enough for her to prepare.

"Limit of the thousands hands, respectful hands, unable to touch the darkness. Shooting hands unable to reflect the blue sky. The road that basks in light, the wind that ignited the embers, time that gathers when both are together, there is no need to be hesitant, obey my orders. Light bullets, eight bodies, nine items, book of heaven, diseased treasure, great wheel, grey fortress tower. Aim far away, scatter brightly and cleanly when fired."

A speel by a captain, and one by a captain of her rank, was already destructive enough on its own. But this time, she focused her reiatsu as she chanted the spell, words that she had not used for a very long time.

She trusted Urahara to make sure that her protective spell would not vanish while she finished.

[mere_shopkeeper]

Leaping into the air and away from the ice shooting up from the ground, Urahara watched as Unohana erected the barrier before...

"Nake, Benihime!"

A sweep of his blade sent a jet of red light screaming through the air at Hitsugaya, cutting through the ice and aiming right towards the boy as Urahara pushed off hard from the wall, following on its heels. Flying towards the younger captain, he landed between him and Unohana, grey eyes cold and serious as he raised his zanpakutou. There was another cry, two more streaks of red energy jetting out and along either side of Hitsugaya, boxing him in as Urahara darted towards him from the front again, Benihime clashing down against Hyourinmaru again and again, aimed to drive Hitsugaya back without giving him room or time to recover.

[whitelikedeath]

This man was so frustrating, made no less aggravating by Unohana hiding away in that pyramid. He recognized that incantation, stopped listening to it partway through. No use wasting his time when he already knew it would be trouble; he need to focus on Urahara.

He dodged the first attack by pushing off of the pyramidal barrier and leaping back the way he'd come. (Dammit, he was not a pinball.) He watched the following attacks soar next to him in his peripheral vision, but he kept his attention on Urahara himself as he continued to push back, blocking each of Benihime's forceful slashes with Hyourinmaru, tensing under the force of each blow. Then he came up against the opposite wall. He couldn't keep going like this; he didn't have a lot of time.

Gritting his teeth, he met Benihime yet again, but this time he forced Hyourinmaru upward, releasing his reiatsu as a warning for what would follow. "Bankai!" His spiritual pressure spread outward in a shock wave and ice sprang up twice as tall, breaking open the surrounding walls and ceiling as the ice grew around his body and formed protective wings that shielded him from debris. As soon as the transformation was complete, the blade that he'd lifted as far as he could, came down like guillotine over Urahara's head.

[bunny_flower]

When the wave of reiatsu all but exploded with Hitsugaya's bankai, Unohana released touzanshou and flared up her own reiatsu, reducing the debris flying her way to cinders before it even touched her.

There was a very good reason why so many people avoided making her angry in every possible way.

"Hadou no kyuujuuichi ! Senjuu Kouten Taihou !"

The spears of energy appeared in an arc and all shot towards Hitsugaya, readyto impale and explode on impact.

[mere_shopkeeper]

Urahara had leaped back the second Hitsugaya's reiatsu flared, Benihime's blood mist shield springing up to protect him from the majority of the flying debris and ice before he was rushing forward again, blade coming up to block the strike, his shield shining into existence again as an arm swung down, aiming to bury a fist in Hitsugaya's gut.

And it was all to keep the boy in place before he quickly shunpoed to the side and out of the way of Unohana's kidou spell, watching as it flew by a few inches away from him.